4-21-24 Biblical Literacy Mark continued in A Study in Revelation expanding the theme of visions. Revelation replicates the same visions in different ways. Today’s agenda focused on Revelation 8-11: the 7 angels and 7 trumpets, similar to the 7 seals in Revelation 4-7. We learn that: 1.The visions are happening at the same time. 2.Bible trumpets are the sound of the warning of God’s judgment. God is at work. 3.Many of the trumpets came out of the plagues of Egypt. Points for home: 1.God is in co...
Apr 21, 2024
Biblical Literacy 4/14/24 Pastor Jarrett Stephens taught the Biblical Literacy class lesson with a focus on “Remember" that God offers the believer hope. He asked us to focus on these times: 1. Remember your salvation 2. Remember your calling 3. Remember when the Lord first used you 4. Remember when you met your spouse and/or had your first child 5. Remember your toughest trial Rewards of remembering: 1. Thanksgiving 2. Fuels worship 3. Strengthens faith God instructs us to remember who He is an...
Apr 14, 2024
4-7-24 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in our class study of Revelation with a reminder that what God says is reality. Mark's lesson had three areas of focus: 1. Reading Revelation in time: The reader is encouraged to understand literature during the time of writing Revelation. 2. Deeper study of Revelation 4-7 and the seven seals: We see heaven's perspective of earth. We must remember that God is the center of the universe, all things. 3. Revelation 8-11 can be read as a parallel passage with ...
Apr 07, 2024
Mark continued the Study of Revelation, Part 10, with a focus of Revelation in Context. Mark begins with an overview of Apocalyptic literature and continues with three points. 1.Revelation in context: type of literature, time of literature, and intense persecution of Christians. Two themes in Revelation: comfort the church in its struggle of evil, and Christ wins over the dragon or satan. 2.Reading Revelation in time: some read the book chronologically. Mark recommends reading it as 7 vignettes ...
Mar 24, 2024
March 17, 2024 Pastor Dr.David Fleming Revelations Pastor Fleming opens the class by explaining the effect of how we approach the study of Revelations. Approaches to the study of Revelations include Views, Genres and Interpretation. He goes into detail on how we approach the text of Revelations can determine what we see when we get there. For example, we tend to see what we want to see in the scripture. He refers to this as Confirmation Bias and discusses the meaning of that in great detail. The...
Mar 17, 2024
Mark continued teaching in the series on Revelation in three sections: 1. Two remaining letters to the churches - Philadelphia & Laodicea. The church of Philadelphia receives commendation. The church of Laodicea is warned about its lukewarm status. 2. Two different ways to read Revelation: Timeline reading: Chronological Vignette reading: Vision, story, ending, and repeat 3. Revelation worship scene as described in Chapters 4 & 5 Not all images are symbols Never lose focus of the message...
Mar 10, 2024
Mark interviewed Dr. Alister McGrath from Oxford University in England. Dr. McGrath was born in Ireland. He became an atheist and Marxist as a way to deal with the struggle between Catholics and Protestants during the 60s in Belfast known as The Troubles. He became a Christian soon after starting his studies at Oxford. Dr. McGrath spoke about the power of story to connect the big picture of life with God. Stories are about people who have experienced change. Dr. McGrath spoke about his conversio...
Mar 03, 2024
Mark continued in the Study of Revelation with Chapters 2 through 3:4. Today continued with the study of the letters to the 7 churches. Each church had specific instructions to strengthen them for their mission. 1. Letters: The letters are written to the 7 churches structured in 7 parts but for all churches for all time. 2. Examine the letters to: Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis. 3. Point for home: Wake up and grow! Listen to Mark provide insight to the people, culture, political, and spiritual atmos...
Feb 25, 2024
2-18-24 -Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the series A Study of Revelation which was a comfort to the church in its struggle against the forces of evil. Christ wins over Satan. 1. Symbolism -a quality or an idea that showed the church how God desires a complete relationship with them. Not all images are symbols. Never lose focus of the message. 2. The Letters -content structured in similar way for each. The symbolism of the number 7, which means completion. Ephesus -You have abandoned your fi...
Feb 18, 2024
2/11/24. Biblical - Literacy Mark continued in The Study of Revelation series with a study of the first chapter in Revelation. His lesson had three areas of focus: 1.The Exalted Christ is depicted as the Alpha and the Omega. We find that He is referenced throughout the Old and New Testaments. 2. The Setting of the Book of Revelation is more than a book John wrote on the island of Patmos, but it’s an accounting of God who was, who is, and who is to come. 3. Points for home: a.The Exalted Christ i...
Feb 11, 2024
02/4/24 Mark continues the study of Revelations by going into detail about how decisions were made about which scrolls and writings were to be put into the Bible Library as we know it. Mark discussed the meaning of Canon and Canonization of the bible. Was Canon to Jesus and the Apostles? Mathew 15:3 Was Canon to the Church? Mathew 15:6 The Church’s recognition of the Canon. Acts 15 Mark then discusses the history of the Canon in some detail Mark reviews in detail: Symbolism Use of numbers 3 and ...
Feb 04, 2024
1/28/24 Biblical Literacy Mark continued with Lesson 3 in the Study in Revelation series setting the stage to dig deeper in study. He divided the lesson into three sections then share some Points for home: 1. Review of past two lessons: the Bible as a library, the apocalyptic genre, and apocalyptic traits. 2. Approach to studying Revelation: how to understand symbols and how the book flows. 3. Study of first 3 verses of Revelation 1:1-3: an uncovering or revealing of Jesus Christ by Jesus. Point...
Jan 28, 2024
Listen to Mark explore the Old Testament and other writings that show the ancient peoples' understanding of apocalyptic writing. Mark continued with a Study in Revelation sharing a brief review of the foundation class from two weeks ago. He encouraged the class to not be afraid of Revelation; we have this. The book of Revelation is apocalyptic, which means it uses dreams, visions, and symbols. Mark expanded on typical features of apocalyptic writings both Biblical and non - biblical writings inc...
Jan 21, 2024
1-14-24 Biblical-Literacy In today’s class, Mark had Pastor Jarrett Stephens interviewed the highly respected Fred Gray, the civil rights attorney who represented Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. and is a young ninety-three years old. Mark began the interview with a statement about MLK weekend and the reconciliation of races noting: Regardless of the color of skin, all humans are created in the image of God. Mr. Gray’s mother told him he could be anything he wanted as long as he did three t...
Jan 14, 2024
Mark began the New Year with a new series on The Study of Revelation, a focused study. The book has varying points of view, but Mark will teach from his perspective after life long study. Revelation is a part of the apocalyptic genre, a type of writing, that involves discerning divine secrets by dreams, visions, and/or angelic explanation. Mark had three points in today’s lesson. 1. Apocalyptic overview: deals with the past, present, and future, and features symbolism, numerology, warring angels...
Jan 07, 2024
Dr David Capes 12/17/2023 Dr. Capes wraps up the study on Genesis by taking us to Matthew 1:1, the Book that that takes us back to the genealogy of Jesus Christ DR Capes reviewed, in detail, how various versions of the Bible address the genealogy of Christ identified in Genesis, for example, KJV: The Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham NLT: This is the record of the ancestors of Jesus, the Messiah, a descendant of David and Abraham Other version: RSV,NASV...
Dec 17, 2023
Mark shared nuggets from each of his published daily devotional books including a preview of one that will be published in 2024. His newest devotional, Minor Prophets for Living, is number four in a series of five daily devotional books published in partnership with 1845 Books, an imprint from Baylor University Press. Mark read excerpts from each book with Scripture, content, and prayer. Psalms for Living, Torah For Living, Jesus For Living, Minor Prophets For Living, Epistles For Living-2024 Pu...
Dec 10, 2023
Mark continued his teachings in the Genesis series sharing the highs and lows after the flood. We learn: 1. Blessings: Noah and his sons were blessed 2. A sad and disturbing story: Sin resulted in Canaan’s curse. 3. The Tower of Babel: man attempted to build a tower for God to visit, and God chose instead to confuse their language and divide the people. Points for home: 1. Honor your father and your mother 2. God is not a genie 3. Pride is not your friend Listen to Mark offer insight into the wo...
Dec 03, 2023
11-26-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued with the study of Genesis-The Prequel. This week focused on Noah Part 2 and was divided into 3 Sections: 1. Background stories to the Flood. Other ancient stories that contrast and provide information. 2. The flood storyline. Noah walked with God. Do we walk with God or hide from Him? 3. Lessons and implications. Points for home: Adam hid from God; Noah walked with God The Creator is also the judge Mercy triumphs over judgement Water is a biblical sign u...
Nov 26, 2023
Biblical Literacy Class 11/19/23 Noah and The Flood Genesis Biblical Literacy Class 11/19/23 Noah and The Flood Genesis Mark breaks down this lesson into three parts: 1. Genealogies/ Linage This is a look at the linage of Adam and Eve and what happens to the family. 2. Genealogies /Ages Then look at the genealogies because it is shocking that these people lived to be 900 and some odd years old. 3. Lessons Learned What can we take home from these interim chapters between the fall of Adam and Eve ...
Nov 19, 2023
Biblical-Literacy 11-12-23 Mark diverted teaching from Genesis to interview Dr. Ed Stetzer,an evangelical scholar, author, missiologist, and Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Dr. Stetzer also hosts a radio show and weekly podcast.Mark posed various questions that began with the highlights of Dr. Stetzer’s life. Through God’s leading, Dr. Stetzer shared his personal life and his prayerful following of God through various means of planting churches and...
Nov 12, 2023
11-5-23 Biblical-Literacy Pastor David Fleming taught the next lesson in the Genesis series, with an emphasis on Genesis 3: The Garden of Eden and the fall. Pastor Fleming cited three points in today’s lesson: 1. The ancient context: Moses responded to the Hebrew people’s questions according to the historical language, vocabulary, understanding, and culture. While Adam and Eve lived in paradise with God, they daily chose to follow Him in obedience. 2. The Genesis Story: Adam and Eve disobeyed an...
Nov 05, 2023
10-29-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued with the study of Genesis and focused on the Garden of Eden as written in Genesis 2. Three points highlighted his discussion: Story basics: Information and meaning. Genesis was written for us but to ancient Israel. Mark gave a review of the pagan culture of the world during Moses’ time. We don’t know the exact location of the Garden of Eden. Discover the sequential and synoptic views of creation. Realize that God doesn’t need us. We are the culmination o...
Oct 29, 2023
10-22-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark interviewed Dr. John Lennox, who not only shared about his loving wife and family but also the spiritual and encouraging influence of his Irish parents. Dr. Lennox, Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, internationally renowned speaker and author of several books on the interface of science, philosophy and religion, shared how his life experiences: education, teaching and speaking opportunities, and his personal faith have shaped his growing relationship ...
Oct 22, 2023
October 15, 2023 Genesis Session 5 In this session Mark discusses Moses on Mount Sinai +1240 BC A close look at "Enuma Elish and "Atrahasis" The Lesson is broken down into: Bizarre Story: The implications and teaching of what and how Moses communicated his message and how we as human beings should interpret the scriptures related thereto. What Moses and the people heard was massively different and very revealing, Moses goes to the top of mount Sinai to deliver his message and communicated a mess...
Oct 15, 2023
10-8-23 Biblical-Literacy Mark continued in the Genesis series with a focus on Part 2 of Creation and asking the question: Are faith and science at war? Mark organized his teaching to cover: 1. Basics -The fundamental principles of creation. The ancients had different teachings for the creation. God is above creation, not captive to nature. God made space and time. 2.Theology -Important theological teachings. God gives us science to combat the results of a fallen world. 3.Options -How do we read...
Oct 08, 2023
Mark continued in the series on Genesis with a focus on addressing context in the creation story. 1. Translation and context: Written for us but to ancient Israel in ancient Hebrew vocabulary, culture, and understanding. The ancients used their common sense to explain the creation. 2. Cosmos and Moses: Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s house and was instructed in Egyptian and Mesopotamian culture. Moses learned gods had various functions in creation. Babylon had other gods to explain creation. 3. Fresh...
Oct 01, 2023
Mark interviewed the Revd. Dr. Michael Lloyd - Principal of Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University in England. He’s released a new book in the U.K. titled Image Bearers - Restoring our Identity and Living our Calling. It should release in the U.S. January 2024. The topic of the interview focused on Genesis 1:26-27. Michael Lloyd discussed seven points that show how we are made in the image of God 1. Role of dominion 2. Gives us value 3. Equality of people 4. Creativity 5. Relationally 6. Sexuality 7...
Sep 24, 2023
Mark started a new class series on Genesis. This book is the prequel to the Torah or Pentateuch. It also sets up an understanding of the book of Moses, the Old Testament, and an introduction to the rest of the Bible. Mark divided the discussion of Genesis into three sections: Set Up - for cosmic approach, sin and its consequences, prophecy and blessing, and God and Revelation. Authorship - a variety of beliefs. Not sure who wrote Genesis, but either by or about Moses. Difficulties/opportunities ...
Sep 17, 2023
In today’s class Mark interviewed guest Dr. Darrell Bock, the Executive Director of Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Mark posed a variety of questions to Dr. Bock, who expertly wowed us with his wisdom, humor, and relational biblical instructions for living in today’s culture. The interview covered: Personal info. Married 48 years to Sally. 3 children and 5 grands. Grew up in Houston. Jewish on both sides of his family. Ca...
Sep 10, 2023
